Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-06-02
LIE DRO1r PARK FENCE WAR.
An Attempt 20 Tear the Linden Street
Fence Down Resisted by the Residents.


Fence Down Resisted by the Re sidenss.
Yesterday afternoon number OF men employed
by Mr.. John F. Waggaman began tearing down
the fence on the west side OF Linden street, just
beyond the boundary Of lie Droit Park. This
fence runs along the west side OF Linden street
and then across Linden. and so on east, forming
the northern boundary Of lie Droit Park. The
lots in front OF which the fence runs belong to Nj
Waggaman, and the question OF the removal Of
the fence across Linden street has been agitated
for some time. The appearance OF these working
men and the tearing down OF the fence created
considerable excitement among the residents Of
the Pan, and by the time the demolition had
reached that part OF the fence across Linden street
there was quite crowd collected. The police ar.
rived and the men were stopped In their work
During the evening the boards that had been
Knocked on were replaced by the residents
FURTHER operations ceased for the night, but early
fence, and again the residents restored it. About
O'Clock the destruc ton OF the fence was again
begun, and then
THE PoLICE WERE SUMMONED,
and Sergeant Lombardy and Oricers Appleby and
smith arrived and arrested Mr.. Chas E. Banes
VINO owns the property In connection with MI.
Waggaman, and also JAS F. Federline and Chas.
Federline and several workmen. They were AZ.
aasigned IN the Police Court this morning on the
was set for trial on Monday.
An application was made some time since to
hue tns Golnssioners TO have this fence removed.
out they refused to take action stating that 1T
was matter to be settled by the cOurtS
WHAT CAPT. GRIFFIN SAYS OF THR ATTITUDE OF THE
DISTRICT AUTHORITIES.
Capt. Eugene Griffin, in charge OF the streets In
the District, was asked by STAR reporter to-day
What Is the position OF the District authorities on
the question:
~ ~ can't say positively" replied the cap
Tam, "Out l understnd the reason why the
oollnilssloners nave refused to interfere In the
mater Is that LeDroit Park is private property,
anu Iney nave no authority to order the removal
OF the fence: LeDroit Park is owned by indi-
Uda G, ana Il rests entirely with them whether
They may close the gates of the park and keep out
all those who do not belong inside, and the COM
m pensioners have no authority to prevent It.
the park appeared before the Commissioners
WIN request for various Improvements which re-
aaesG was refused by the Commissioners for the
reasons have given you. When this was under
stood the property owners offered to give ground
Ior the streets to the city, but again the Commits
reason that the proposed streets had been laid out
Wllnout any regard to the general plan OF the city
streets nor do they conform to this plan in any
WHAT COMMISSIONER WEBB SAYS.
Il see, MI. Webb, that some OF the people In
LIE Droit Park have taken the matter into their
own hands and tore down the fence" said STAR
reporter to the Commissioner to-day.
Eyes, yes They tore it down, and the other
FACTION put 1t up again, and now, understand
they are going to tear it down again." laughingly
replied the Commissioner. "Le6rOit PARK is pri-
vate property. The Commissioners have no right
10 put up or tear down fence on private property.
l nave tod the people when they came TO me
that they had better so into the courts. You
Know we have had some correspondence with
Blrney and B1rney, the lawyers about this mat
ter. Mr.. Birney argues that the streets in the
park nc public property. He claims that the
opening or the streets virtually dedcates them to
the city, and advances as another argument the
TACT that While the people out there have regularly
paid taxes on their property none have ever been
assessed upon the streets. Maybe he is right but
we don't care to be mixed UP in the matter and SO
told MIR. Waggaman when he called here this
morning."
"Did Mr.. Waggaman call in relation to the diff
culty?" asked the reporter
"Oh, no, said the Commissioner, che came to
see me about another matter, but we happened to
speak OF LeDrOit, and then l told him as have
said"
A Truce Agreed Upon.
SUSPENSION OF HOsTILITIES At LIE DRoIr PARK
Messrs- Banes, Waggaman and others have re-
tanned Messrs. Brney d Birney as their counsel.
These parties are opposed to the fence which
crosses Linden avenue. MeSSrS. Scott Smith III. [.
Prince and others have employed Mr.. Ii. Wise Gar
nett, and by agreement all proceedings will be
stayed TIL Monday, by which time Mi. Garhett
Will file bill to enjotn any interference with the
fence.